The Lord of the Rings Special Edition DVD Petition

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    Marsha King, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Warner Home Video
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This petition concerns the release of a "special edition" DVD for the 1978 animated classic "J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings," directed by Ralph Bakshi. This film is groundbreaking for a number of reasons. Firstly, the film was done almost entirely with the rotoscoping technique. The success of recent films such as Richard Linklater's "Waking Life" and Robert Zemeckis' "The Polar Express," which use similar techniques in equally major doses prove that Ralph Bakshi was always ahead of his time.

With the recent special edition DVD re-releases of Bakshi's other popular animated fantasies, "Wizards" (released by 20th Century Fox in 2004), and "Fire and Ice" (released by Blue Underground Entertainment in 2005), and the making of a new animated feature from the director, there has been a recent surge in interest in Bakshi's works, and what better way to add to this interest with a special edition of one of Bakshi's most popular films?

The combination of the number of Lord of the Rings fans with the number of Bakshi fans make this film a perfect opportunity for a special edition re-release. Surely, there must be enough additional features lying in the Warner Brothers vaults that would make the perfect extras for this DVD release?

And, also, additional special features could be produced for this release, including an audio commentary with director Ralph Bakshi, and, perhaps, an additional audio commentary by a member of J.R.R. Tolkien's family, or a Tolkien expert, or a film critic would also be interesting and informative to fans? Or even an interview with fellow LOTR director Peter Jackson, who was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien's work through Bakshi's 1978 film.

The current single-disc DVD edition (released in 2001) won't do. Lord of the Rings and Bakshi fans simply won't stand to see this classic film get the treatment it has received. The current DVD release doesn't even include a theatrical trailer (despite the fact that the back cover lists the trailer in its special features notes).

Please give this ambitious film a chance and give us fans the DVD release we deserve. There are many of us who would love to see a 2-disc or 3-disc edition of the animated "Lord of the Rings" feature.

98 Signatures

  • Isaac Mendel Baranoff
    • Comments
    • I created this petition, because I want this classic film to get the treatment it deserves.
  • John K. Stickman
  • Michal Wojcik
    • Comments
    • This would truly be worth it
  • Stucco Homes
    • Comments
    • Warner Brothers: Release this NOW!
  • Mark Pearse
  • Anthony PEarson
    • Comments
    • We need a special edition for this movie, its such a lovely film.
  • Thomas Alvi
    • Comments
    • yea!
  • Abba-Zabba
    • Comments
    • WE NEED THIS DVD!
  • David Lorentzson
  • R. Wels
  • NAU
  • Jason Sprouse
  • Jeramy Bray
    • Comments
    • Lord of the Rings has a wonderful live action version, but only Bakshi's version did the story justice. Please help release this film.
  • Scott Johndrow
    • Comments
    • I absolutely love this movie despite its imperfections.
  • Christopher Farmer
    • Comments
    • В
  • harry rochel
    • Comments
    • Please release this properly!
  • Robert Zuckerman
    • Comments
    • This classic film is a masterpiece. It deserves the special edition treatment. Warners: Don't make the same mistake you made with "The Maltese Falcon", okay?
  • Martin Brown
    • Comments
    • This film is a legendary piece of cinema. Give it the treatment it truly deserves.
  • Francisco Jose Perez Suarez
    • Comments
    • Magnific film.
  • Maurice
    • Comments
    • A brilliant film like this deserves better.
  • mike garikes
    • Comments
    • release it
  • Andreas Garbe
    • Comments
    • This is one of the few animated classics, as well as the first movie based on the Lord of the Rings. A special edition DVD would sell like hotcakes. Please issue one. Thanks.
  • keith paddon
    • Comments
    • В
  • Mike Martin
    • Comments
    • This is the original LOTR movie, and is remembered fondly by those of us old enough to remember it. Let a younger generation appreciate the work done 30 years ago.
  • Jonas Lasrsson
  • Kevin Snyder
  • Harry Palms
    • Comments
    • YAY FOR LITTLE GAY HOBBITS WITH SMOOSHY HEADS
  • Garreth Stewart
    • Comments
    • Hell yeah, why should crap like Titanic and Kingdom of Heaven get a 4 disc release and a classic like this get nothing. Wigs me out man
  • eric burgett
    • Comments
    • В
  • lydie lemaire
  • Scott R Bartholomew
    • Comments
    • A truly underrrated animation piece!
  • Jerry Yanez
  • Joe Hedger
  • Eleglin
    • Comments
    • French fans of "Lord of the Rngs" want a special edition too
  • Teddi C. Richardson
  • Jay Smith
  • Vincent Asaro
    • Comments
    • The world needs this DVD!
  • Lucas Barwenczik
    • Comments
    • okese
  • Damien Taylor Williams
    • Comments
    • hell yes!!!!
  • Gary Copeland
  • Nicole Evanshaw
    • Comments
    • В
  • Desoray
    • Comments
    • this was a really good version!!
  • Christopher Baum
    • Comments
    • Please also restore the original voiceover at the end.
  • Ricardo Ribelles
    • Comments
    • Original live actors shooting would be a fantastic material to see.
  • Ryan Richardson
    • Comments
    • Please......do it! And Right! Thanks!
  • Nathan P. Lindsell
    • Comments
    • This film has played a MASSIVE part in my life & i'd love to see it get the respect it deserves!!!
  • Brian Mason
    • Comments
    • Absolutely *loved* this film.
  • Christopher Seaton
  • Erin Block
  • Ben Burnsed, Jr.